Jewel case



April 15, 1930. J HOLDEN 1,755,063

' JEWEL CASE Filed Jan. 3, 1928 patented Apr. 15, 193i) UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE JOSEPH B. HOLDEN, 0F GANASTOTA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TODIEMOULDING PRODUG- TION COMPANY, INCORPORATED, 0F CANASTOTA, NEW YORK ACORPORATION OF NEW YORK JEWEL CASE Application filed January 3, 1928.Serial No. 244,297.

This invention relates to a sectional box adapted to be used moreparticularly as a jewel case in which opposed similar box sections arehinged to each other along one side for opening and closing movement andare provided with means for holding them in their closed position andwith additional means for automatically opening them and limiting theopening movement when the holding means is released.

One of the objects is to combine the automatic opening means andlimiting means in a single unit preferably in the form of a spring wirehaving its opposite ends substantially concealed in suitable slots incorre sponding sides of the sections and tensioned to automatically urgethe sections to their open positions when the holding means is released.

Another object is to conceal the larger portions of the hinge sectionswithin the corresponding sides of the case.

A further object is to conceal the locking means mainly within the sidesof the case sectionsopposite the hinged sides.

Other objects and uses relating to specific parts of the invention willbe brought out in the following description.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a jewel case embodyingthe various features of my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on line 22, Figure1, showing more particularly the spring connections between the sectionsfor opening the same and limiting their opening movement, portions ofthe section being broken away;

Figure 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig ure 2 except that the casesections are closed to show the compressed positions of the spring arms,portions of the case sections being also broken away.

Figures 4 and 5 are enlarged detail section a1 views of opposite ends ofthe case taken respectively on line 44, and 5-5, Figure 1,

except that the case sections are closed.

Figure 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken in the plane ofline 66, Figure 3. Figure 7 risen inner. faceview of P tion of one sideof the lid section of the case, showing more particularly the slot forreceiving the adjacent end of the spring.

As illustrated, this jewel case comprises opposed similar box sections-1 and -1 of bakelite or equivalent material adapted to be cast in oneand the same mold while in a plastic state to form similar chambers 2--and 2 and marginal flanges 3 and -3 which form the walls of theirrespective chambers --2 and -2.

The box sections 1 and 1 are preferably rectangular or square in topplan, but obviously may be made in many different forms, the section --1constituting the main body or receptacle for jewelry or other articleswhile the other section -11 may be termed the lid or cover which ishinged at ---l along one side to the corresponding side of the othersection 1 so that when closed the inner faces of the flanges 3 a and 3'will meet in a plane midway between and parallel with the top and bottomof the case. a

The outer faces of the rear flanges oi the box sections -1 and-ladjacent the hinges l are beveled inwardly at 5 to receive the eyes orloops of the hinges mainly within the outer surfaces of said rearflanges as shown more clearly in Figure e to partially conceal the sameand also to allow the leaves of the hinges to be embedded. or cast intothe adjacent flanges of both box sections during the molding of thelatter thereby further concealing the major portions ot the hinges andat the same time affording a more durable and permanent connectionbetween the hinge leaves and their respective box sections.

In addition to embedding the ends of the r of the hinge pins in theplane of the meeting e ges f a d section o t at wh n the lid is closedthe meeting edges will closely engage each other to form a substantiallydust proof joint.

Suitable means is provided for holding the lid in its closed position,said means consisting, in this instance, of a flat spring 7 having oneend seated in a recess 8- of corresponding width in the inner face ofthe central portion of the front flange 3 and secured to said frontflange by a rivet -9, Figure 5.

The other end of the spring 7- extends upwardly across and beyond themeeting faces of the sections and movable in a re cess -8'- in the innershaft of the central portion of the front flange of the section. 1-,said recess 8 being in vertical alinement with and corresponding to thewidth of the recess 8- in the section -1- so as to form a continuationthereof when the sections are closed one upon the other.

The front end -7- of the spring -T is tensioned to engage the front wallof the recess -8 and is provided with an upenture 10- adapted to engagethe inner rounded end -ll of a suitable keeper in l2- which is securedto the front flange -3 in the center line of the recess -8-.

The upper terminal end -T- oi the spring -7 is preferably curvedinwardly to autonmtically ride across the inner rounded end -11 of thekeeper as the case sections are closed one upon the other.

The intermediate portion of the spring catch 7- in the plane of meetingedges of the case sections is deflected or bent outwardly and forwardlythrough registering openings -14-- in the adjacent edges of the frontflanges 3 and 3 to form a finger piece or push button -l3 by which thefree end 7 of the sprin 7 may be forced against its own tension out ofengagement with the keeper button -1 l for unlocking the sections andpermitting them to be opened as shown more clearly in Fig ure 5.

The means for automatically opening the box sections and for limitingthe opening movement comprises a forwardly and rearwardly extending link-15- interposed between. the box sections preferably near one sidethereof and having its opposite ends seated in lengthwise slots -1G and1G-- in the adjacent flanges -3- and of the sections -1 and 1'-respectively.

One end of the spring wire link l5- is looped or coiled around andthereby attached to a pin 17 which is secured in the walls of the slot16 transversely thereof or parallel with the axis of the hinges rnearthe rear end of said slot.

The end of the link -15- which is coiled around the pin -17-- isprovided with an extension --18-- projecting forwardly from said pin andtensioned against the bottom of the slot 1G to assist in opening thesection 1' when the spring catch 7- is released from its keeper 12 asshown more clearly in Figures 2 and 3.

The other end of the link -15- is returned rearwardly to form a loop-19- and a rearwardly projecting extension -20, which latter isspring-tensioned against the bottom of the slot -l6 and is slidablealong and upon said bottom as the case sections are opened and closed,the spring tension between the link l5- and its extension -20-servingalso to assist in opening the sections when the spring catch -'T isreleased from its holding position.

A stop pin 2l is secured in the walls of the slot -l6- transverselythereof and in the path of movement of the loop --19 connecting theextension 20-- to the front end of the link ill so that when the lid --1by the combined spring tension of: the extensions l8-- and the loop -l.-will engage the pin 2l to limit said opening movement, the distancebetween the loop 19- and pin 2l when the box sections are in theirclosed position being arranged to limit the opening movement of the lidto a plane at substantially right angles to the other section -1 asshown in Figure 2.

The stop pin 2l is spaced from the bottom of the slot -16 a sufiieientdistance to allow the section 20 to ride there under when the lid isopened thereby assuring the engagement of the loop 19- with the stop pinto limit the opening movement of the lid it being understood that thedistance between the stop pin -2land rear end of the slot 16 will be atleast equal to and slightly greater than the length of the extension 2Oto allow the loop 19 to engage the stop pin when the sections areopened.

It will be observed that the link l5- and extensions -18 and 2(l areformed from a single piece of spring wire and serve the double purposeof automatically opening the box sections when the spring catch -7- istripped and also of limiting the opening movement of: said sections.

It is also to be understood that the distance between the stop pin 2landfront end wall of the slot -l6 is sufficient to allow the spring linkl5- and its extension 2C- to more i'orwardly in the slot when the lid isclosed.

It will be noted that when the case is closed the link 15- and itsextensions 18-- and 20 and also the major portions of the hinges -.l:and spring catch 7 are concealed within the marginal edges of theflanges of the box sections so that the exterior of the box may presenta smooth and pleasing external appearance and when the box is made ofbakelite as in the present instance it may be finished in differentcolors according movement in the direction of said opening movement.

2. In a ewel case, a box having a lid hinged thereto along one side toopen and close, a V-shaped spring having one arm attached to the lid andits other arm slidable along and upon the box toward and from the hingeas the lid is opened and closed, and a stop member on the box engaged bythe angle of the spring as the lid is opened for limiting the openingmovement of said lid.

3. A case comprising opposed box sect-ions hinged to each other alongone edge to open and close, and a spring wire link extending in thedirection of said movement and having one end attached to one sectionand provided with an extension spring-pressed againstthat section, andits other end provided with a return extension slidable along and uponthe other section as the sections are opened and closed, and means onsaid other section for engaging the return extension for limiting theopening movement of the sections.

4:. A sectional case having its sections hinged together along one sideto permit them to open and close, and a spring wire link having one endattached to one section and its other end provided with a resilientextension slidable along and upon the other section toward and from thehinge and tensioned to move the link toward its sectionopening position.

5. A jewel case comprising similar opposed sections hinged togetheralong one edge and having corresponding sides provided with transversepins, an S-shaped spring having one loop engaged with one of the pinsand its other loop slidable toward and from the hinge and into and outof engagement with the other pin, the free ends of said spring beingtensioned against adjacent portions of their respective sections to openthe same while the intermediate portion of the spring constitutes a linkfor limiting said opening movement.

6. A jewel case comprising opposed sections hinged to each other alongtheir rear sides to open and close and provided with registering slotson their meeting faces, a spring link having its opposite ends seated insaid slots and provided with oppositely projecting extensions tensionedagainst the bottoms of their respective slots for opening the sections,said link having one end attached to the corresponding section and itsother end slidable upon the other section, and means on said othersection cooperating with the sliding end of the link for limiting thesliding movement of the link as the sections are opened.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 28th day ofDecember, 1927.

JOSEPH B. HOLDEN.

